Rezwan Razack’s Museum of Indian Paper Currency

The Rezwan Razack’s Museum Of Indian Paper Money is considered the most comprehensive and largest private archive known today for paper currencies of India. Opened to the public on 17th February 2020, this numismatic museum houses a complete collection of paper currencies going back to 1812, long before the British Crown rule started in 1858. The portrait notes of British monarchs such as Queen Victoria, King George V and VI are also present. India’s colonial history has been aptly documented in the notes from Portuguese India to French India. Encapsulated securely over 45 large conservation grade museum showcases, the entire gallery is packed with wall-to-wall currency notes of a collection that grew from more than 50 years ago.
The museum itself was conceived by Razack himself three years ago with a single-minded aim to curate and display an entire collection that spans more than 200 years. India’s grandeur and its fascinating history is captured in all the minutiae and gilded flourish with incredible details that goes into the making of each note.

The collection on display features over 700 pieces of rare currency notes all on view for the first time. The slim, wall-mounted display cases having only a shallow 200mm depth, poses a challenge for the conservation internal lighting. Using a 20mm round fibre optic light wand, the team worked on formatting a light source that was able to deliver a seamless uniform sheet of warm (3000KV) light over the entire display area. With the aid of a customized light reflector, concealed behind the showcase frameworks, the effect was stunning. Perfect illumination was
critical as the notes require close-up views to allow an intimate study by viewers at the museum.

Trika showcase design team took almost half a year to design and build a range of bespoke cases to complement this numismatic museum. With site installation taking another month, the treasured artifacts were finally displayed within high-security crystal-clear glass, ABLOY security locks with double-locking mechanisms, fully concealed opening access and a formidable support of concealed sensors and alarms. Working closely with Thom Catallo of Catallo Associates, the cases were painstakingly specified to blend seamlessly with the background of graphics and information panels. Long plinths of glass and light melded with the linear ceiling and floor lines. The display notes were the main point of reference, lit from within as if it is part of an almost invisible glass casement.

Complying with the strict conservation requirements, the museum showcases were essentially designed and built with 14 sets of cantilevered three meter long wall cases to flank the outer walls, creating an open central atrium of space to allow the spread of tall, totem-like free-standing frameless glass cases to punctuate the ample walkways.

One of the design breakthroughs in this museum were the first Cyrus Demountable cases ever built. Anticipating that the tight installation deadline would not allow for lengthy worksite glass bonding, this showcase leads the way for future installation of very large and complicated opening mechanisms and airtight cases that require quick and easy assemblies. Paying very close attention to the overall protection and conservation needs of this fragile and extremely valuable collection, cases were equipped with Trika’s patented double-locking system that mates a primary ABLOY high-security lock with a dual-pronged, steel-bolted secondary latch lock. And throughout the entire spectrum of noteworthy displays, what you cannot see are the subtle and yet effective illumination provided by a network of concealed lighting that does not spill out of the cases.

The museum includes an extensive range of multimedia items, including filmed interviews and presentations.

Rezwan’s collection has been built over 50 years with exhaustive research. He has also co-authored an encyclopedic book, “The Revised Standard Reference Guide to Indian Paper Money that was released in 2012. It is considered the bible for Indian paper money. In 2017, Rezwan authored a second book ‘One Rupee, One Hundred Years 1917 – 2017’ to mark the 100th Anniversary of the issue of the one rupee note in India.

Features of the museum
• It is completely climate controlled.
• The museum showcases does not use any toxic or destructive materials that could deteriorate
the artefact over time. These materials used in the construction of the museum display cases
have been pre-qualified and approved by international museum conservators.
• It is a great medium of education for visitors of all age groups as it narrates the history of India.
• The museum has paper money from countries that colonized India namely British, French and
the Portuguese.